Business Careers
for Liberal Arts Majors

1. The Business Major Myth

Most college students believe that to secure a career in business they must
leave the university equipped with a "business major." They believe that for each
specific business career field out there a corresponding major must exist at
the undergraduate level. This may be true, if that career is in something like
accountancy, but most careers do not require a specific academic background.
Indeed, what most business recruiters are looking for is the ability to communicate
and to think critically—two basic components of any Liberal Arts degree.

The skills we are looking for in graduates are not
specific to a machine or industry: We want young workers who can read, write,
compute, pick up new skills quickly and eagerly, and interact cooperatively
with others. These are the skills of a liberal education, not the specific
skills of a vocational education.

— Corporate CEO

The problems that result from trying to link a major to a specific career
affect LAS students to a greater degree than those students in other, more
vocational colleges. However, not having a vocational degree can be beneficial
in the job market. In a recent survey of 3,000 University of Virginia LAS graduates
it was found that 70 percent found careers that had little or no connection
with their academic discipline. Most of this 70 percent had secured careers
within the business world. Yet, many LAS majors still say they feel unprepared
and ill equipped for a business career, or they feel that all their major does
is prepare them for a teaching job. Those of you who have asked yourself, "What
can I do with an LAS major?", however, will probably be surprised to learn
that an LAS degree is considered to be on the cutting edge for a career in
business.

2. Communication and Creativity - The LAS
Major

So why would businesses hire LAS grads when there are so many graduates
from the College of Business out there? Former General Motors CEO Roger B. Smith explains why. He argues
that the same mental processes that are acquired and sharpened in the study
of liberal arts can be utilized by Corporate America to organize operations,
manage people, and to add new insight and vision into the way businesses operate.
Recently, 113 corporations were asked what skills were needed by recent grads
to forge a successful career in business. They stated that the most important
skill to have was good verbal communication, followed by the ability to identify
and formulate problems, being able to assume responsibility, to be able to
reason, and to possess the ability to function independently. These skills
are best gained from the broad knowledge of human interaction, of society,
of culture, and of the arts. LAS majors are exposed to a wide variety of people,
places and historical periods: they have studied the greatest achievements
of the human race, they have come to know the dignity and worth of mankind.
It is the communicative and creative skills acquired by such a course of study
that Smith believes separates LAS from business graduates, obviously to the
advantage of the LAS graduates.

The one skill managers need above all others is to recognize human traits
and abilities. If you can't communicate, then you can't effectively manage,
buy, sell, or trade. If you are insensitive to people, then you will not be
able to harmonize individual work styles and abilities with the common goal
of the business. You could be a brilliant accountant, but if you can't communicate with people, or can't treat them with dignity
and respect, then you will be a terrible manager.

There are a lot of brilliant people in business who
cannot communicate with others. When they attempt to become managers, we
have to replace them with the kind of people who can communicate.

— CEO of a California corporation

Two studies have shown those LAS graduates in the humanities and social
sciences can fashion effective careers for themselves in Corporate America.
An AT&T study found that, because of their interpersonal skills humanities
and social science grads were superior in management skills to business majors,
math majors, and science/engineering majors.

AT&Ts research also found that LAS graduates moved into middle management
faster than the math and science/engineering majors, and that they were reaching
top level management in equal proportions to those who had a business degree.
But what is perhaps more important, is that the LAS graduate had a higher
rate of job satisfaction than the non-LAS graduates!

The results of another study undertaken by Stanford University are equally
encouraging. Over a 20 year period of study Stanford professor Thomas Harrell
found that the greatest business skill anyone could possess was the ability
to communicate and he found that the best communicators were people with a
strong LAS background.

The most sought after skill from CEO on down is the
ability to communicate with people. The person who can do that in business
will always be in demand.

— New York based executive recruiter, John
Callen

It is something of an irony then, but one that favors LAS students, that
business programs emphasize analytical over interpersonal and communicative
skills. The graph below illustrates essentially what the AT&T study found—that the managerial performance by those who had been LAS undergraduate majors
was superior to the performances of undergraduate other majors. (Source: "College
Experiences and Managerial Performance," by Ann Howard, Journal of Applied
Psychology, 1986, Vol. 71, No.3.)

Managerial Performance

Managerial Performance by Undergraduate Majors
(Scores based on a 10 point scale)

Score

Math. & Science

Business

Engineering

Liberal Arts

6.2

.

.

.

.

6.1

.

.

.

X

6.0

.

.

.

.

5.9

.

.

.

.

5.8

.

X

.

.

5.7

.

.

.

.

5.6

.

.

.

.

5.5

.

.

.

.

5.4

.

.

.

.

5.3

.

.

X

.

5.2

X

.

.

.

So, although the outlook for careers in business is good for LAS graduates, you still have to land that all important first job. You need to
begin your planning now. What major you choose is only one of
the many factors recruiters will evaluate. They will look at
grades, electives, internship experiences, volunteer experience,
part time jobs, and anything else that is illustrative of your
personality traits. They will want to know what skills you have
acquired through course work and your other experiences. They
will examine the whole you, not simply a transcript.

3. The Business Environment

When a student says "I want to go into business after I graduate"
what exactly does he or she mean? Many students envision themselves working for a major company like IBM or Xerox, wearing business suits
and helping make decisions that will earn money for their company. While this vision may be accurate for some, it is not what most students can expect to experience immediately after graduation.

If you believe that a business degree will guarantee you an immediate management position, job security, and a starting salary of more than $30,000 per year, you may be disappointed. The truth is that a bachelor's
degree, whether it is in business or a more liberal area of study,
usually only helps you obtain an entry level position. Your undergraduate
degree does not promise a quick rise to the top of the corporate
ladder. Success in the business world requires a great deal of
hard work, experience, and in some cases, an advanced degree.

So, what do you have to look
forward to once you leave the sheltered environment of the college
campus with a LAS degree? Well, if you prepare properly, you
will find that there are a number of opportunities available in
business for you. Proper preparation involves researching many
different types of careers and companies. Large corporate companies
are not the only options open to those who wish to pursue a career
in business. It is important to remember that smaller companies,
hospitals, schools, fast food chains, etc. can also offer business
opportunities. Also, career advancement usually occurs much faster
in smaller organizations due to decreased competition.

While researching your career
options, be sure to remain mindful of your personal needs, lifestyle,
and abilities. You should try to determine what type of work
environment is best for you and will allow for personal growth. Determining the type of office atmosphere you prefer is a positive
step toward ensuring overall job satisfaction. Office environments
can vary greatly, from casual and friendly to formal and inhospitable.
For some individuals a stressful work environment may be welcomed,
especially for those who work well under pressure. For others,
a slower pace is preferred.

If you are concerned about whether you will enjoy your career, it is a good idea to attempt to secure a summer internship with the type of company or organization you think you may be interested in working for after college.
In many instances, summer internships serve to help students determine if they really want to pursue a career in a particular area. Internships can also help you decide whether you want to continue to concentrate on your current course of study or switch your focus to something you consider to be more suitable for your personality and goals.

It is important that you
make an informed decision about your career. Choosing to pursue
a career in business is no different. Your LAS degree has equipped
you with skills that are valued in the business world. You must
take the time to research the different types of business opportunities
and environments that exist. Having a clear meaning of what
business is really like will help you choose the business career
that is right for you and can accommodate your long term career
goals.

4. Planning Your Major

Before you plan your major
program you need to evaluate your personal and academic skills
in relation to the business career you want. You need to realistically
match your abilities to a major and career. There is no point
working towards an accountancy major if you dislike math and placed
into Math 112. You may very well struggle academically, be unhappy,
and possibly destroy any chance of securing a decent GPA. But,
if you want a career in public relations for example, and are
a good communicator, then an LAS degree such as speech communications
may be the way to go. So, if you feel that your academic strengths
lie in the liberal arts areas, plan a major that concentrates on your abilities and interests.
It will be more impressive if you graduate with a good GPA in
an LAS major then it would be to graduate with a poor GPA in business
because you struggled academically.

Remember Business is not the only
door that opens on to a business career. As a freshman, John
wanted to be a Business major. However, he failed calculus and felt
that his career plans were shattered. He was despondent and felt
that, if he did not have a business major, he would not have a
decent job. During an advising session, John was asked what experiences
he had enjoyed in college, during his extracurricular activities,
and part time jobs. He mentioned that he really liked his job
as a grocery bagger. John obviously did not want to make bagging
his career, but said what he enjoyed was the personal interaction;
trying to figure out what type of personalities the customers
had as they came through his check-out lane. He would then gear
his interaction with the customers based on his perceptions of
them. John came to realize that he was actually very good at
dealing with people. He ended up majoring in industrial psychology,
completed a Master's Degree from the Institute of Labor
and Industrial Relations and is now a personnel manager for a
large company. John had based his major explorations on his abilities
but was still able to specifically gear his major and his skills
to a business career.

Jane was interested in writing
computer related manuals for IBM or Apple. Not having the quantitative
background to be able to work on a computer science or computer
engineering degree she completed a rhetoric degree instead.
While working on her rhetoric major she was able to pick up some
computer science courses at U of I and data processing classes at
a community college as well as working part time as a computer
operator. By combining her abilities and interests, academics
and experience, Jane was able to secure her career objective.

Angela also wanted to write, but she wanted to write books for children. Angela's major was English but she combined it with creative writing and child development and child psych classes. On campus, Angela volunteered
to work at the Child Development Lab, and while at home she worked
as a baby sitter and camp counselor. By combining her class room
experiences and her part time employment and volunteer work Angela
was able to create an academic background conducive to her career
plans. After graduation Angela was quickly hired by a major publisher
of children's books.

What these LAS grads did was to effectively market themselves and their degrees. By concentrating on their abilities and skills, under the auspices of an LAS major, they were able to engineer a program of study and, subsequently, a resume that was ideally, and specifically designed to meet the requirements for a particular business career.

5. Marketing Your LAS Degree

Marketing your LAS degree
for a business career should begin early in your academic career
with your course selections, choice of summer jobs, and extracurricular
experiences. First, you need to recognize your abilities and
plan a major based on a realistic expectation of your academic
performance. Working towards a major for which you are unprepared
will only result in unhappiness and possibly failure. Second,
you should develop your own realistic focus on a career goal and
then try to obtain some skills or technical expertise that will
give you real life exposure and experience in a particular career
field. This is very important because as a LAS major you will
need to offer potential employers something more than your generalist
degree. Although your degree should demonstrate to a potential
employee your ability to communicate and to think analytically
and critically, you can improve your marketability by gaining
valuable skills and experiences.

The easiest way to develop
a specific career skill is through your summer or part time work,
intern/externships, volunteering, extracurricular activities,
and through electives. It is only logical, if you want to be
a loan officer in a bank you first need to get some experience
of working in a bank. Possessing such experience based skills
makes you and your degree more marketable. You can discuss your
bank experiences on your resume or with an recruiter. Having
held down a responsible job also demonstrates that you have developed
the career skills and the social and interpersonal skills to be
able to contribute to a work-place environment. The skills developed
in one setting will be applicable to a variety of tasks and will
be useful in several settings. In a 1992-95 study of what employers
are looking for, over 60 percent of recruiters stated that work-related
experience was the major factor in determining a candidate's
job prospects. And remember, never underestimate your skills.
If you were a shift manager at McDonald's during high
school, put it on your resume. At the very least, it shows that
you were able to perform well in the work-place to the point of
being rewarded with a position of responsibility.

I find that too many students underestimate what they have to offer. Maybe it is ignorance about the real world or lack of confidence. Either way, it blocks their ability to show me why I should hire them.

— IBM Recruiter

By obtaining some extracurricular skills, you have created a link between your undergraduate experience and the world of work. You can add to theses all important links with a flexible and divergent course schedule. To do this, however, you will need to begin the exploratory process early in your academic career. You need to develop a broad based educational experience. For example, you could supplement your LAS major program of study with business-like courses, a second language, and courses that concentrate on improving your interpersonal and communicative skills. If your quantitative ability can stand it, then an accountancy class, an economics class, and a statistics class will serve as a good business adjunct to your non business major. There are many such classes that you, as an LAS major, could pick up to make your business credentials stronger without actually becoming
a business major.

Please refer to the following section on those suggested Business
courses.

6. Suggested Business Courses to Supplement Your LAS Degree

7. Conclusion

With your arsenal of a diverse selection of courses and electives, and job and volunteer experiences, you will be able to match some of your skills to the specific job position. In your resumes, cover letters, and interviews,
you should focus on those traits and skills which companies are
seeking in recent graduates. It is up to you to show the
interviewer or recruiter how your experiences relate to the particular
job and company. Always be enthusiastic, motivated, and sincere
and show them what a good communicator and people person you are.
Utilize all the campus resources you can; the Career Center, its library, and its counseling services; on campus recruitment
programs; and internships. Also, look into small to medium
size companies as well as the larger corporations. And, have a
realistic attitude about salary and advancement. Remember, over
95 percent of U of I students secure employment within 3 to 9
months of their job search.

There are no easy ways to secure that dream business job, unless your uncle is a CEO of a multi-national corporation, but with some foresight, preparation, and mature exploration you can make your LAS degree an attractive and marketable improvement on a Business degree.

Twelve out of the top 15 careers for LAS graduates are business careers: Accounting, Advertising, Banking, Bank Operations, Computers and Data Processing, Consulting, Insurance, Merchandising, Retailing, Sales, Telecommunications, Writing. Most are management positions.

— Liberal Arts Jobs by Jay Barton

There is no need for LAS majors to lack confidence in their degrees, when approaching a business career for, as the AT&T study concluded, the humanities and social science majors continue to make strong showings in managerial skills and have experienced considerable success. We hope and expect this will continue.

So, good luck with your LAS explorations! We are sure that, with hard work and perseverance, your dreams of a business career will be realized.